Increasingly, online and video communication are an important aspect of sharing stories about animal rescue, adoptions, happy endings, the cause, and programs and services which help animals in need and showcase animals who have been rescued by Tree House and are awaiting their forever homes. The technology is a vital component of being able to create messaging that helps gain increased awareness about the cause and the animals and increase adoptions.

How many pets did this grant help?

1+

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Mike B. was a stray cat who was suffering from serious facial wounds (obviously bite wounds) when he was rescued by the Tree House Community Cats Team. We took him to our Bucktown Clinic for emergency care before transferring him to our resident clinic at Tree House Headquarters for ongoing intensive care. This friendly cat was in grave condition, with deep, penetrating bite wounds which were seriously infected covering much of his face. He also had lesions on his legs, was battling a severe URI (upper respiratory infection), and had serious dental decay, loose teeth, and a mass on his tongue which we removed. Mike also tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus).

We placed him in one of our isolation units for intensive care. The combination of a traumatic injury, an infection, and a URI in a cat whose immune system is already compromised by FIV put Mike in a life-threatening situation. He struggled with high fevers, loss of appetite, and lethargy. We were very concerned for this sweet cat’s long-term health. Mike’s recovery was a slow and difficult road. For two long months, Mike’s health was precarious and we continued to monitor his progress. Finally, his wounds began to heal, his fever subsided, his teeth and gums healed, and his appetite returned. Mike was going to make it!

Mike was eventually well enough to be placed in our FIV colony, where he began to thrive. The joyful cat inside emerged, and it did not take long before he caught the eye of an adoring fan. Krys C. adopted Mike B., whom she fondly refers to as Mikey, just before Christmas last year. And Mike soon had a new best friend when Krys adopted another FIV+ Tree House cat named Diamond Jim, whom she now calls Chuck. It took a while for the boys to warm up to one another; however, Krys shared that they are now cuddling together.

“Now that both kitties are on the same diet, they have no problem eating with each other," Krys says. "They now get along just fine, and I even caught them grooming each other recently! They both sleep in bed with me and play together. I’m surprised they advanced so quickly, and I couldn’t be happier!”

What a wonderful happy ending for two very special cats. Mike B. was featured in a Tree House video to promote adoption, animal rescue, and the campaign to fund Tree House's new, state-of-the-art facility to help even more animals. The technology will enable Tree House to create even more media and communication to spread the word and increase awareness of cats like Mike B. and Chuck and find more cats forever homes.